On the subject of taxes…..Fairport’s school board is still trying to come up with a facilties plan that Perinton taxpayers will embrace (based on exit polls from 7 months ago). Looks as if there were a ba-zillion! I’m anxious to know what residents really thought!

Allow me to share my thoughts: #1) We don’t need another elementary school (we have 3 & elementary enrollment is declining). #2) We don’t need a field house & artificial turf at FHS. #3) We do need security devices (signing in at the main office, no matter how close it is to the main entrance is not a security device). Cameras at all entrances & hallways are needed. If 7-11′s have them, why not our schools? #4) Think “necessary”, think “really necessary”…not, “this would be nice”. I would bet that residents would vote for necessary. Another idea: Have open houses for the community to view the schools with a “tour guide” (PTSA members could volunteer) before the next vote. Some Fairport residents haven’t set foot in a school since 1973!

Most importantly, the board has to look at numbers (stats). How many voters are empty-nesters, senior citizens & parents sending their children to private schools? If that number is higher than residents with children attending public schools, then you can bet the next school vote will not pass.

I have children in the the FCSD (and it’s a great one). I want the facilities project to pass, but I’m not willing to increase my already high taxes to include “fluff” items. Remember, most homes were assessed higher this year and we’re paying more. Any thoughts?

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Gary Gocek grew up in Liverpool (central NY) and attended RIT (BS in CS). He has lived in or around Fairport for over 20 years. Gary now lives west of the village of Fairport with his wife, two cats and two guitars. He has two young-adult sons who graduated from FHS.

Gary works as a software developer and enjoys his family, music, ethnic heritage activities, church activities and DVDs-by-mail. He maintains family and other websites. After 9/11, he became a news junkie, gathering news from the D&C, TV, radio and the Internet. Gary says blogging is a natural extension, and for the D&C he hopes to "mix typical diary-like blog entries with humorous posts and comments on local politics."